The American journal of emergency medicine
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Non-heart-beating donors (NHBDs) have to meet the predefined criteria for organ donation including death from irreversible cessation of the beating heart. The Maastricht conference defined 4 NHBD categories to differentiate their viability and ethical-legal support. In Spain, NHBDs who originate from an out-of-hospital setting correspond to type II donors. ⋯ Thirty days after transplantation, 2 recipients died, 1 died of stroke associated with bilateral pneumonia and 1 died of hypovolemic shock resulting from hemothorax. The remaining 18 patients were progressing well at 30 days. Our data suggest that lung transplantation from patients after extrahospitalary cardiac death is feasible.
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Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common cause for hospitalization worldwide. Identification of patients at risk for mortality early in the course of AP is an important step in improving outcome. Red cell distribution width (RDW) is reflective of systemic inflammation. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between RDW and mortality in patients with AP. ⋯ Red cell distribution width on admission is a predictor of mortality in patients with AP.
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The link between minor troponin (cardiac troponin I [cTnI]) elevations and atrial fibrillation (AF) is still debated. ⋯ In patients with acute AF, minor cTnI elevations link to short-term adverse events. Known ischemic vascular disease and older age showed prognostic value only in the long term.
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The purpose was to determine the proportion of alcohol-positive (AlcPos) trauma patients in different age groups and any association with mortality using the National Trauma Data Bank. ⋯ Trauma patients of all ages may be AlcPos. Being AlcPos is a marker for greater injury in all age groups. After controlling for ISSs, trauma patients 40 years and older who were AlcPos have increased mortality. This study suggests a role for alcohol testing in all age groups.
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Myeloperoxidase (MPO) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are markers of inflammation and elevated levels have been found in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) unrelated to cocaine. We evaluated the utility of MPO and CRP for diagnosis of ACS and the prediction of 30-day adverse cardiovascular events in patients with cocaine-related chest pain. ⋯ Myeloperoxidase and CRP are not useful for diagnosis or prognosis of patients with cocaine-associated chest pain.